Manganese Contamination

Manganese in New York Drinking Water

Ranked by max manganese detected (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

200

Cities Tested

Over SMCL

21%

% Over SMCL

64.5 µg/L

State Avg

▲ 3% vs national

vs National

630

Health Violations

Analysis

Manganese in New York: what the data shows

New York has 200 cities with manganese data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Manganese exceeded the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL in 41 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 64.5 µg/L. Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water. Elevated levels are common in areas with iron-rich geology and in systems that draw from reservoirs with low dissolved oxygen. The secondary MCL of 50 µg/L is based on aesthetic concerns (taste, staining), but health-based guidelines suggest neurological effects at higher concentrations. Emerging research links chronic manganese exposure in drinking water to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ and behavioral issues. Oxidation filtration and water softeners are effective at removing manganese from household water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 50 µg/L EPA Secondary MCL

New York

21%

41 of 200 cities

→ ▲ 3% above national rate (worse)

National avg

18%

729 of 4068 cities

City Map

Manganese data across New York

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 manganese testing data. Cities where manganese exceeds the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by manganese level in New York

Highest Manganese levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All New York cities ranked by manganese level

#	City	Level	Over SMCL?	Violations	Grade
1	Kiryas Joel (V)	2020.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	D+
2	Endicott (V)	1025.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	0	A-
3	Owego (V)	879.6 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B-
4	Cohoes (C)	791.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B+
5	Vestal (T)	471.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A-
6	Smithtown (T)	419.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B
7	Clarkstown (T)	290.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	11	B-
8	Smithtown (T)	283.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	11	D
9	Hempstead (T)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	9	F
10	Great Neck Estates (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
11	Great Neck Estates (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
12	Great Neck Estates (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
13	Great Neck Estates (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
14	Great Neck Estates (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
15	Great Neck Estates (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
16	Great Neck Estates (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
17	Guilderland (T)	191.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	18	A-
18	Smithtown (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	C+
19	Smithtown (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B+
20	Smithtown (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	6	B+
21	Smithtown (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	7	B-
22	Smithtown (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	C
23	Smithtown (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	11	B-
24	Smithtown (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	A-
25	Ticonderoga (T)	169.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	4	A-
26	Cairo (T)	167.1 µg/L	Over SMCL	45	F
27	Hempstead (T)	162.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	14	D
28	Mamaroneck	126.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B+
29	Hempstead (T)	110.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	B
30	Bedford (T)	107.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	9	D
31	Clifton Park (T)	103.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	4	D
32	Sea Cliff (V)	100.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	0	A+
33	Binghamton (C)	74.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	A-
34	Cattaraugus (V)	73.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	14	A-
35	Hempstead (T)	69.4 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	A-
36	Buchanan (V)	66.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	0	A
37	Jamestown (C)	61.2 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	A
38	Mount Vernon (C)	57.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A-
39	Oneida (C)	52.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	A
40	Oneida (C)	52.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	A
41	Woodbury (T)	51.2 µg/L	Over SMCL	18	C+
42	Long Beach (C)	48.9 µg/L	No	3	A
43	Tarrytown (V)	43.5 µg/L	No	3	B+
44	Oyster Bay (T)	43.2 µg/L	No	14	B-
45	Oyster Bay (T)	43.2 µg/L	No	0	A
46	Scarsdale	41.9 µg/L	No	0	A
47	Mount Pleasant (T)	39.9 µg/L	No	36	C
48	Yorktown (T)	36.5 µg/L	No	13	B
49	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
50	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
51	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
52	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
53	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
54	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
55	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
56	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
57	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
58	Watertown (C)	34.1 µg/L	No	19	B
59	Roslyn (V)	33.2 µg/L	No	1	A
60	Amsterdam (C)	31.8 µg/L	No	33	B-
61	Cortlandt (T)	30.9 µg/L	No	11	B+
62	New Hyde Park (V)	30.8 µg/L	No	1	A
63	Freeport (V)	29.4 µg/L	No	2	A+
64	Port Chester (V)	26.1 µg/L	No	0	A
65	Port Chester (V)	26.1 µg/L	No	0	A
66	Port Chester (V)	26.1 µg/L	No	0	A
67	Greenburgh (T)	26.0 µg/L	No	40	B
68	Massena (V)	25.2 µg/L	No	2	A-
69	Yonkers (C)	23.2 µg/L	No	2	B+
70	Leray (T)	22.1 µg/L	No	4	B+
71	Ramapo (T)	22.0 µg/L	No	19	C+
72	Wappinger (T)	21.1 µg/L	No	9	D
73	Corning (C)	20.3 µg/L	No	2	B-
74	New York (C)	20.0 µg/L	No	11	A-
75	Johnson City (V)	19.8 µg/L	No	2	A-
76	Fulton (C)	18.9 µg/L	No	2	A
77	White Plains (C)	18.7 µg/L	No	1	A-
78	Bethlehem (T)	18.7 µg/L	No	12	A-
79	Fredonia (V)	18.4 µg/L	No	0	D
80	Saratoga Sprngs (C)	18.2 µg/L	No	3	A-
81	Rockville Center (V)	16.6 µg/L	No	5	A
82	Ithaca (C)	16.0 µg/L	No	11	B+
83	Peekskill (C)	14.4 µg/L	No	15	A-
84	Cassadaga (V)	13.5 µg/L	No	1	A-
85	Watertown (T)	12.2 µg/L	No	20	B
86	Rome (C)	12.1 µg/L	No	20	B+
87	Mineola (V)	11.6 µg/L	No	1	A-
88	Westbury (V)	10.7 µg/L	No	2	A-
89	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	27	B-
90	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B-
91	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
92	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
93	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
94	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
95	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
96	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
97	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
98	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
99	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
100	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	3	B
101	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	2	B+
102	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	C+
103	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	3	B
104	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
105	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
106	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	3	B
107	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
108	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	5	C+
109	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	2	B
110	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
111	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
112	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
113	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
114	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
115	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
116	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
117	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
118	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
119	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
120	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
121	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
122	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
123	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
124	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
125	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
126	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
127	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
128	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
129	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
130	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
131	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
132	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
133	Gloversville (C)	9.7 µg/L	No	2	A-
134	Kenmore (V)	9.7 µg/L	No	0	A
135	Newburgh (T)	9.0 µg/L	No	50	F
136	Garden City (V)	8.8 µg/L	No	5	A-
137	Queensbury (T)	6.8 µg/L	No	2	F
138	Olean (C)	6.4 µg/L	No	1	B
139	Elma (T)	6.3 µg/L	No	0	A+
140	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	2	A-
141	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
142	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
143	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	8	B-
144	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
145	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
146	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
147	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
148	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
149	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
150	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
151	Horseheads (V)	5.8 µg/L	No	6	D+
152	Kingston (C)	5.8 µg/L	No	8	A-
153	Glens Falls (C)	5.6 µg/L	No	17	B+
154	Beacon (C)	5.5 µg/L	No	4	A-
155	Nyack (V)	5.0 µg/L	No	3	B
156	Nyack (V)	5.0 µg/L	No	3	B
157	Albany (C)	4.9 µg/L	No	0	A-
158	De Witt (T)	4.9 µg/L	No	6	A-
159	Syracuse (C)	4.7 µg/L	No	29	C+
160	Schenectady (C)	4.7 µg/L	No	1	B+
161	Colonie (T)	4.7 µg/L	No	1	A+
162	Rensselaer (C)	4.5 µg/L	No	6	B+
163	Clifton Springs (V)	4.4 µg/L	No	0	B+
164	Ogdensburg (C)	4.3 µg/L	No	1	A-
165	Hempstead (V)	4.1 µg/L	No	1	A-
166	Halfmoon (T)	3.4 µg/L	No	3	A
167	Ossining (T)	3.3 µg/L	No	6	C
168	Middletown (C)	3.2 µg/L	No	3	A
169	Clay (T)	3.2 µg/L	No	2	A+
170	Geneseo (V)	3.2 µg/L	No	7	A-
171	Newburgh (C)	3.1 µg/L	No	17	A-
172	Wallkill (T)	3.1 µg/L	No	23	F
173	Macedon (T)	2.9 µg/L	No	3	A+
174	Rotterdam (T)	2.8 µg/L	No	2	A
175	Grand Island (T)	2.7 µg/L	No	2	C+
176	Fenton (T)	2.6 µg/L	No	8	D+
177	Poughkeepsie (T)	2.6 µg/L	No	0	A-
178	Colonie (V)	2.6 µg/L	No	1	A-
179	North Tonawanda (C)	2.3 µg/L	No	0	A+
180	Plattsburgh (C)	2.3 µg/L	No	1	A-
181	Troy (C)	2.0 µg/L	No	4	B-
182	Auburn (C)	1.7 µg/L	No	0	A+
183	Watkins Glen (V)	1.5 µg/L	No	7	A
184	Dunkirk (C)	1.2 µg/L	No	1	C
185	Deruyter (V)	1.2 µg/L	No	0	A-
186	Poughkeepsie (C)	1.2 µg/L	No	2	A
187	Fleming (T)	1.1 µg/L	No	12	A
188	Springport (T)	1.1 µg/L	No	8	A-
189	Evans Mills (V)	0.8 µg/L	No	1	A
190	Farmington (T)	0.7 µg/L	No	7	A
191	Ontario (T)	0.7 µg/L	No	4	A+
192	Lockport (T)	0.7 µg/L	No	0	A+
193	Canandaigua (C)	0.7 µg/L	No	2	A-
194	Niagara Falls (C)	0.6 µg/L	No	0	A+
195	Oswego (C)	0.6 µg/L	No	4	A
196	Cortland (C)	0.6 µg/L	No	5	A
197	Geneva (C)	0.5 µg/L	No	2	A
198	Lockport (C)	0.5 µg/L	No	0	A
199	Glen Cove (C)	0.5 µg/L	No	4	B+
200	Palmyra (V)	0.4 µg/L	No	2	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about manganese in New York

Is manganese in New York tap water harmful?

The EPA secondary MCL for manganese is 50 µg/L, set primarily for aesthetic reasons (taste, color, staining). 41 cities in New York exceed the secondary MCL. However, emerging research links chronic manganese exposure above 50–100 µg/L to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ.

How can I remove manganese from my drinking water?

Oxidation filtration (such as greensand or birm filters) is the most common and effective method for removing manganese from well water. Water softeners using ion exchange also work well. Standard carbon filters provide limited manganese removal. If your water has a metallic taste or brown/black discoloration, manganese may be the cause.

What causes high manganese in New York water?

Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water, particularly in areas with iron-rich geology. Low dissolved oxygen conditions (common in deep wells and reservoir bottom waters) increase manganese solubility. Industrial sources include mining, steel production, and battery manufacturing. Seasonal changes in reservoir water chemistry can cause manganese spikes.

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